Awareness Month Tribute
This month only, make a gift in honor of someone who has shown up for you — and they'll receive a personal thank you message from ANRF Board member and RA survivor Staci Stringer Betschart.
It's a meaningful way to celebrate the people in your village while fueling the research that's changing lives.
Make Your GiftDon't wait — this opportunity is available this month only.
Arthritis can harm your mental health, especially if you have chronic pain. You may be in a worse mood and feel more irritable, sad, or worried. Two mental health conditions often affect people with arthritis—anxiety and depression.
Arthritis and these mental health conditions can lead to each other. The pain and stress of having arthritis can lead to anxiety and depression. Also, anxiety and depression can increase inflammation, 1 of the factors that causes arthritis.
Here are symptoms of common mental health conditions that affect people living with arthritis and autoimmune diseases:
Anxiety is feeling fear or restlessness. With
anxiety, you may feel:
Some anxiety is normal and may help you focus. But it can be a problem if you feel very anxious or feel anxious all the time.
Depression is feeling sadder than usual or
uninterested in your normal activities. With
depression, you may notice:
Some people with depression may misuse alcohol or drugs. They may also think about hurting themselves.
